Visiting the Ancients, Bristlecone pine forest
These have been the most popular post on my blog this year so I thought I'd share here 
Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva)
Heading South from Greenville we took the Eastern route along 395 because my dad had expressed a desire to visit the ancient bristle cone pine forest. Since this was a great spot for some pictures I was enthusiastic about taking this route. We drove down towards Bishop where we spent the night, but on the way we made a couple of stops. First up we attempted to go to Bodie, but a huge fire in the area thwarted our attempt.
smoke on the horizon
So we continued on to Mono lake where we watched a storm heading our way
mono lake
and saw a couple deer
fawn
Incoming rain storm
So after stopping for the night it was up early in the morning to head up to the Bristlecone forest.
road up to the Bristlecone forest
After a brief stop at the visitor center I spotted a sign pointing to a trail to the Methusela tree so off I went. I probably should have read the trail description first. It was a 5 mile hike and at 11,000 feet that was quiet a hike! My Dad followed me and by the time we got back to the car we were both a little out of breath.
Dad at the top
bristlecone forest
bristlecone forest
After the mornings hike we stopped for lunch then it was on to Manzanar. I already wrote about this important site of a sad part of U.S history earlier but my Mom and Dad hadn’t been there so it was worth another visit.
old koi pond, Manzanar
view from Manzanar
Next up was a quick stop to walk around the other worldly landscape formed by lava flows at fossil falls.
lava at Fossil falls
Then it was time to head home, another great trip.
sunset on the high desert
UFO(cloud) spotted at sunset
Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva)Heading South from Greenville we took the Eastern route along 395 because my dad had expressed a desire to visit the ancient bristle cone pine forest. Since this was a great spot for some pictures I was enthusiastic about taking this route. We drove down towards Bishop where we spent the night, but on the way we made a couple of stops. First up we attempted to go to Bodie, but a huge fire in the area thwarted our attempt.
smoke on the horizonSo we continued on to Mono lake where we watched a storm heading our way
mono lakeand saw a couple deer
fawnIncoming rain stormSo after stopping for the night it was up early in the morning to head up to the Bristlecone forest.
road up to the Bristlecone forestAfter a brief stop at the visitor center I spotted a sign pointing to a trail to the Methusela tree so off I went. I probably should have read the trail description first. It was a 5 mile hike and at 11,000 feet that was quiet a hike! My Dad followed me and by the time we got back to the car we were both a little out of breath.
Dad at the topbristlecone forestbristlecone forestAfter the mornings hike we stopped for lunch then it was on to Manzanar. I already wrote about this important site of a sad part of U.S history earlier but my Mom and Dad hadn’t been there so it was worth another visit.
old koi pond, Manzanarview from ManzanarNext up was a quick stop to walk around the other worldly landscape formed by lava flows at fossil falls.
lava at Fossil fallsThen it was time to head home, another great trip.
sunset on the high desertUFO(cloud) spotted at sunset 0
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